Dynamic back row ace Ollie Griffiths believes the growing belief in the squad under Dean Ryan has been key to Dragons making progress over the last season.
Griffiths - who has made 73 appearances for the Dragons – has come through the Academy ranks at the region to become a first team star.
The 25-year-old has been impressed by the way the team has made strides forward in the 2019/20 season – with the Guinness PRO14 set to restart later this month.
And the Newbridge-born forward believes a new-found confidence has been pivotal.
“I feel we have made a lot of progress this year,” said Griffiths, in an interview with Last Word On Rugby.
“A few signings from last year have helped us kick on a bit. I feel we have been progressing well the last six months or so.
“Dean has been great for us all. He’s filled the boys with confidence, has given a lot of youngsters some chances and a lot of them have done really well.
“The likes of Josh Reynolds and Taine Basham played quite a few games last year and have been great this year.
“A lot of boys have been given chances and Dean has just given us a bit of the belief that we have needed.”
Griffiths also pinpointed the arrival of fly half Sam Davies as key to progression over the last 12 months.
“It’s always good to have guys with experience, especially with being quite a young team,” he added.
“Sam coming in this season has been great, he’s played a number of games for Wales and god knows how many Guinness PRO14 games. To have a fly half with experience like that makes a big difference.”
Dean has been great for us all... He’s filled the boys with confidence, has given a lot of youngsters some chances and a lot of them have done really well...
